Israel Tells US Iran May Use Chemical Weapons Soon
Washington officials are split on whether Tehran plans to deploy the weapons or if the warning is political pressure to restart the war.
By Sofia Ramirez ·
Israel warned the United States on Tuesday that Iran is preparing to use chemical weapons against its enemies, a claim that has sparked debate within the American government. The New York Times reported that Israeli intelligence officials shared this assessment with their counterparts in Washington over the past two weeks.
Israeli leaders argued that the chemical threat is more immediate than Iran's nuclear program. They told U.S. agencies that Tehran is rapidly advancing technology to mount chemical agents on missiles. Officials also said Iran could smuggle the weapons into Israel or another country to carry out an attack.
Reactions in Washington remain divided. Some senior U.S. officials viewed the intelligence with concern, noting it aligns with recent warnings about Iranian preparations to strike U.S. interests. Others expressed deep skepticism, viewing the warning as part of a pressure campaign by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government to convince the Trump administration to resume large-scale fighting.
The central dispute among American intelligence analysts is not whether Iran has the capability. There is little disagreement that Tehran is developing chemical weapons. Instead, the conflict centers on intent. Officials debate whether Iranian leaders would actually use the weapons if Iran is not attacked again.
The intelligence exchange highlights the ongoing tension between Israeli and American assessments of the regional threat. While Israel pushes for a harder line, Washington continues to weigh the credibility of the new chemical weapons data against its existing strategic calculations.
